​Denise's blog

Hi fellow traveller on the creative path,​​I’ve been waiting for just the right moment, to write about Vanessa’s Priestess Program, and just now as I was making myself a pot of tea it arrived.

Last night I received a beautiful surprise gift from a close friend of my daughter. It is an exquisitely presented tin decorated with a sort of Grecian design in blues.

The contents of this tin are none other that what I would say is a perfect description of the essence I encountered within the Sage Priestess Certification Program. “Sofitel Signature Noir BLACK LEAF TEA PERFUMED WITH VANILLA BERRIES AND ROSE PETALS” by Madame Flavour!

I discovered Vanessa’s Priestess program in 2015 and saw that the early bird entry was open and after much checking in with my heart, and a trusted friend as well… I felt guided to follow my knowing and say ‘yes’ to this.

First I’ll recount the tea ingredients as I see their resemblance to this work. Sofitel SignatureThis speaks of the absolute attention to beauty and detail which you will encounter in every pdf, webpage and book that Vanessa Sage as created. I’m an artist, this really matters to me, it shows a commitment to going further than the ordinary to bring to us an offering that uplifts us on arrival, by engaging our vision.Noir - black leaf teaI am reminded of the Black Madonna, she is a revered aspect of the Divine Feminine that you will encounter in these teachings. Black tea is strong in flavour and can be enhanced by any number of additions, but having that strong foundation is what brings earthiness and depth to this tea. ( and to my favourite brew of spicy masala chai).Perfumed with Vanilla BerriesVanessa is a poet as well as a Priestess, she uses beautiful and powerful language to describe her subject and in her presentations - you know the kind of writing that you can almost taste and smell the exoticness of what you’re contemplating. She’s also deeply sensitive and thoughtful, so she knows a little goes a long way with words.… last but no way least… Rose Petals…well divinely feminine, timeless, an essence captured after the rose has bloomed in her finest silken wraps.

I also want to say now deeply I appreciate having entered Vanessa’s online temple is that it taught me the power of holding sacred space & circle space online. I did not realise this was possible or even a thing.Vanessa models a mastery in holding a sacred space of presence and compassion for ‘everyone in the room’. Were it not for my receiving this experience I may not have been as prepared as I was to sit beside my Mother for her final week as she readied herself to leave her body behind. Learning how to hold space is one of the richest and most rewarding practices I have added to my life long learning, and I am so grateful for it.It’s about holding a space for grace and not needing to be right, or to fix anything or anyone, but to be present to that moment, in that gathering with that person - meeting yourself and others right where they are.

Vanessa takes a modern approach to Priestessing that honors ancient lineages but is not limited to any location, gender expression, or set of spiritual beliefs. She encourages cultivating an embodied way of expressing your inner Priestess and discovering what that means for you!

If you’ve got a place in you that is very curious about meeting your inner Priestess, or indeed, you already commune with her but would like to gather with others who also either know or are learning to know, you will find for yourself a depth and clarity in Sage Priestessing.

It’s more important than ever for women to step into their light as spiritual leaders and share their wisdom with courage and strength. This program will nurture and help you reclaim your power and calling as a Priestess.

with loveDeniseThis is not an affiliate post, Vanessa and Stacy have become treasured friends I am honoured to be associated with their sacred, vital work in the world.

​Sage Priestess Certification 2020 registration is now open! Join us on the spiral path!vanessasage.com#sagepriestesscertification #sagelivingpriestess

We were warmly encouraged to arrive early and one of the participants Helen, kindly did an energy clearing for each of us on arrival, that alone sets the tone of an event, I so appreciate those extra attentions to detail/energy. It really makes a huge difference. Find out more about Helen’s workwww.helenjoybutler.com - Elemental Space Clearing® and on facebook.

When we leave our home environs to maybe travel a ways, or whatever it took for us to set aside the time to attend, be ready on time and get there... it can draw us through all manner of moods, reactions, weather and traffic conditions, family commitments, responsibilities and expectations... all those ‘things that run around in our heads taking up space and vying for our attention’. These all line up... sometimes in harmony, sometimes not... so.. to be given the gift of sound healing/energy clearing when you arrive for a day in a beautiful studio space to create something honouring your year ahead., truly is an honouring of the whole group.

The morning session we did energy work, intention setting, awareness practice, meditation, crystals, aromatherapy and guided writing, letters to the Universe. All this before lunch! We set out to create a vision board, but there was so much more infused into our canvases than what one might usually do when creating a vision board.

I’ll not include all the steps here, that is for Katrina to share as it was her inspiration and careful creation of this event.

I just wanted to highlight the exceptional experience I had, as so much more than the collage paper images activity was taken into consideration. Bringing in all the elements, creating sacredness and awareness, allows the participants to go as deep as they feel to, making our experience so much richer for it.

There were synchronicities and stories, many examples of how Katrina’s vision boards made years previously have wonderfully manifested into her life in so many ways. It’s encouraging, it’s supportive, it’s uplifting and regenerative to have these opportunities to gather and create together. Below I’m seated next to Lara…who I met 7 years ago to the day, at a Tracy Verdugo workshop.. Katrina was there too!

I was just smitten with this little photo of me… Kat asked us to bring a photo of ourself as a child that shows us at our happiest and where the "light" in our eyes is really strong.I have only a few photos of myself as a child… so this one is quite precious to me, I forgot I had it. Approx 3 years?

Thank you so much Kat,

I had such a beautiful day in your studio space, invigorated by the joy of this workshop.

I went on quite a ‘mythical adventure’ gathering all the reference material and elements that were given to me as 'possible inclusions’ for this commissioned painting. It was graciously requested as a special surprise for my friend’s husband. It was still a professional project and we treated it that way, a detailed brief was sent to me, with an understanding that I’d ‘do what I was led to do in regards to the composition. I have never had such a long list of inclusions to consider before: trees, rocks, mountain, classical music, geologist’s boots or estwing hammer, specific mythical stories and scence fiction novels, a love of cats, cycling and mountain climbing, along with several favourite authors and the NZ Kea (alpine parrot) - I had my (quite tricky but fun) work cut out for me.

80 x 80cm ‘Avalanche Peak’ mixed media on canvas

Curiously though . . . once I had images of most of the inclusions . . . the composition came to me relatively easily. It’s got almost an ‘art journal - mixed media’ kind of feel to it, with illustrated elements in all kinds of sizes… I LOVE it when you don’t have to be realistic. ​

“In ancient times cats times cats were worshipped as gods; ​they have not forgotten this.” - Terry Pratchett

"old moon in the new moon's arms"

I really loved adding in all the details, the Kea sitting there greeting the adventurer as he begins his trek.Both the giver and receiver of this artwork were readying to do a big walk up Avalance Peak, in the South Island of New Zealand.

It is really an honour and a joy to be asked to create a painting of such personal meaning as this. It was a wonderful feeling to finish it and have it be very happily received and hanging proudly in the new owner’s home.

Following the directions given me via email, my sister Tricia and I headed all the way to the end of Longacre Road to find a gateway that had a beautiful mosaic picture of a donkey on our left and a sign clearly saying THIS WAY on our right....So, up the driveway we went and found a hilltop home overlooking fields of green and a large paddock with several handsome chestnut and chocolate brown rather tall, horses... and 4 dear little donkeys. My heart leapt at the sight of the sweet things I’d first seen on facebook, skipping through the forest on a walk with their owner Pauline.

Warm fuzzy welcomes were made and excited faces and embraces as I met in person Pauline, a lady I’d only met online a few short months earlier via a workshop called ‘Get Out of Your Own Way - to Clarity of Purpose.' My sister Tricia was with me and we met Ting Ting who was visiting from Beijing as well as Blue, Pauline’s lovely husband.

I love how we can meet kindred Souls on the path this way. We enter a virtual classroom together and can end up friends in the wide open world outside for real, and encompassing and integrating the new/knew thoughts learned.

We shared a pot of ‘black gumboot tea’ which simply means good old black tea that comes quite strong and may be commonly called English Breakfast Tea at your local cafe. One of life’s simple pleasures is teatime shared with friends old and new.

Soon after our round table connection, off we went to meet the donkeys. Oh the joy. I’d purchased a bag of very large carrots enroute as gifts for our new long eared friends so we took them with us as chunky chopped up pieces and they were received enthusiastically by Donald, Sparky, Roma and Chippy, their crunching sounds made us giggle. It’s so great to have good teeth! I thought to myself.

Feeding and feeling into the energy of these compact likeable creatures was absolutely a pleasure. I’ve not had a lot to do with horses in my life and was a little scared of them but these miniature donkeys touched my heart and reached in to my inner child at once.Perhaps it’s their size, they don’t tower over you as a race horse might, they reminded me of the biblical story of a donkey taking Mary to shelter to have her baby.

Getting to pat them and talk to them and see the way they come in close it feels so nurturing and an instant acceptance of possibility that love will be shared here, how can it not? I rubbed a spot behind Chippy’s ear, it stood up straight pointing to the sky as the other one stayed down and he put his head down against my legs making me feel so close to him, I suspect he was very much enjoying a little wind break my body was providing by blocking the wild west wind that was blowing on our arrival.

I sometimes feel unsettled on a very windy day, believing there’s too much ‘chi’ but curiously that didn’t seem to bother me this day as I had delightful distractions of meeting Pauline, Blue and their friend Ting Ting and also the field of green with a stunning herd of horses and four extremely cute miniature donkeys. ​

We ventured over to see the 130 year old house that is being lovingly restored to her former glory.When she’s ready the hearth will be a place of grace and encouragement for participants interested in their own wide awakening and seeking equine therapy along with the wisdom and guidance of longtime Woman of her land - Pauline. She showed me the bare boards and dilapidated kitchen that will be restored to life and rooms where retreatants will sleep and find shelter from the external winds and storms or life.

Pauline animatedly shared ideas and visions of how it will look and feel and reminds me too that it's so important that each one may be reminded they are their own guru. (Deep down, we know what resonates for us.) All that is sometimes needed is an encouraging and well prepared resting and gathering place and some wisdom teachings of awakening to remind a Soul the reason they are here (and how they are being) and how they may find their way back to their centre.

I love the idea of returning to this homestead and experiencing the possibilities and opening that can come about when inner work and an open heart meet with the groundedness and intuitive nature of equine therapy. I am intrigued by this connection of animal and human.

Unfortunately our stay was brief but oh how grateful I am that we were able to have a walk with the donkeys before it was time to go.

After a good cup of ‘gumboot tea’ and a yummy pancake breakfast we were ready to go.Pauline is such a nurturing and grounded guide, we found her in the pen; donkeys waiting with their halters on ready to walk with their companion... Chippy made his way over to where I was standing at the same time Pauline asked which donkey would we like to walk with. I remembered the little moments I’d shared with him the day before so it seemed we may have chosen each-other.I would have loved to have had many more hours with this kindly Soul in the shape of a red/brown miniature darling donkey.

A favourite moment was at the very end of our walk I brought out some more carrots and at one point I had the crunching mouths of three little donkeys closely surrounding me as in ‘stereo sound’ they chomped and chewed happily.

"Whatever state i'm in i believe myself"

I was introduced to the 'Inner Map' by Julia Colwell, she explained how we experience our feelings going above and below this 'line' many many times a day.The idea is that when we are below the 'line' we are in what is called Reactive Brain . . . and it is not usually the best place to make good decisions from.

To NOTICE and acknowledge when I am below the line... is to remember... I'm not in the best position to respond from . . . take a breath/pause. So many things can trigger us to go into states like shame, guilt, despair, sadness, fear and anger. . . probably many of them set up when we were really young. Those 'programs' are still running along in the background and we wonder why we freak out sometimes about something that doesn't seem all that worthy of our despair.Wouldn't the world be different if more of us could communicate about our feelings in ways like this, imagine if you could let folks know when you realise you are 'below the line' and need to take care of yourself.​

Sadly . . . I notice, I am experiencing me pushing against me.

Below the line are feelings and beliefs around scarcity, competition and narrow focus, it's quite painful to be there. I've been in a cycle of 'growth' and 'stuff' lately... and so the feelings below the line have become a lot more familiar than the ones above.

I was reminded whilst listening to an interview on Sounds True of Rob Bell.. talking about how he 'makes things'- that using my creativity really helps me to shift from disempowered thinking to something else... perhaps... neutrality, acceptance ... or even a hint of happiness! So... I took the information on the pdf above and added Little dd drawings, expressing the emotions in pictures.

Julia Colwell has a free guided meditation on her site... link is here in case you'd like it.

How to move above the line?With self compassion and kindness, . . . what if I just give up the need to struggle about it . . . and take some calming, centring breaths.Coming back inward, gently tenderly, acknowledging the feeling,I see you,I feel you​. . . and let it transform.

Truly... it's flippin hard being a human sometimes. Waving to you there and wishing for you a moment of deep kindness and compassion, and may it continuously grow like a beautiful garden in spring.

Allowing inner alchemy. Yes... this is the invitation for April and beyond.

It feels like it's taking me an inordinate amount of time to figure out the feelings thing... but when I simply allow them to be here . . . and FEEL them... they can surprise me by changing... quite quickly.​​But it's tricky... it seems they want to be felt for their true self first... then they're willing to release their grip.

Sometimes feelings are a little messy and hard to manage, but pressing them back down inside makes for a rather compressed state.